USVI man fined $5K for 60 grams of marijuana

A US Virgin Islands native was fined $5,000 at the Magistrate’s Court on Thursday after he was held with 60 grams of cannabis in the Valley on Virgin Gorda.

Twenty-nine-year-old Hakeem Leonard pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled drug and possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply when he appeared before Magistrate Shawn Innocent.

Magistrate Innocent gave a 30-day timeframe for Leonard to pay the fine, which was in relation to the ‘possession with intent to supply’ charge. If he fails to pay within the stipulated timeframe, he will spend six months at Her Majesty’s Prison in Balsam Ghut. Leonard was cautioned, reprimanded and discharged in relation to the ‘possession of cannabis’ charge.

Ahead of his sentencing, the offender’s attorney, Leroy Jones, had asked the court to impose a fine or a suspended custodial sentence on his client. He said Leonard, who is a first-time offender, is sorry and ashamed of his actions.

What the court heard happened

The court heard that on September 30 last year, Leonard was in police custody for an unrelated matter when he was searched.

Police found 58 dime bags containing the cannabis tucked in his pant pockets. When questioned by police, Leonard said: “You all catch me with everything, officer.”

He then told law enforcers that he received the drugs ‘for someone’.

He was subsequently charged.